Sign



June 13, 1933. NACHUMSOHN 1,913,505

SIGN

Filed July 1, 1929 anventor:

v Patented June 13, 1933 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRVING NACHUMSOHN,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO NAXON CORPORATION, OF

I CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SIGN Application filedJuly 1, 1929. Serial No. 375,196.

My invention relates to improvements in signs and more particularly tosuch types of signs or luminous devices which are used for advertisingand display purposes.

One object of this invention is to provide a sign or luminous deviceutilizing illuminable lamps in such a manner that while some of thelamps are illuminated successively and others continuously, yet all ofsaid lamps are energized from a common electrical circuit,

such. as the secondary circuit of a transformer.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved sign orluminous device in which both moving and stationary light effects can beproduced.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved moving lightsign in which attractive color effects can also be produced. 90 A stillfurther object of my invention is to effect a simplified electricalcircuit in connection with electric signs, and particularly for suchsigns employing luminescent tubes.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specificationprogresses, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

In the drawing: Figure l is a front view of the device; and Fig. 2, thepreferred wiring diagram, showing an electrical circuit used in carryingout my invention.

In the preferred form three illuminable gaseous conduction lamps, 3, 4and 5 are shown shaped as a display border of the sign board 6. Saidboard may be made of any suitablematerial and all of the gaseousconduction lamps shown are mounted thereon in accordance with any of thepresent methods of mounting such lamps to sign panels. In one of saidmethods the electrodes 0 of the lamps pass through holes (not shown) inthe panel 6 and are disposed to the rear of the sign, in a well knownmanner.

" A continuously illuminated tube 7, shaped to represent the message ofthe sign, which in the present instance is shown as the letter N, isalso mounted on the face of the panel and Within the display border. Theterminal portions of the tubes which enter into the panel can be seen at8, Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 each of the tubes 3, 4 and 5-is provided with spaced darkenedor relatively opaque portions 9 and intermediate light radiatingportions 10. Corresponding darkened or illuminable portions of therespective tubes are disposed in a longitudinally advanced relation, sothat when the tubes 3, 4 and 5 are fired successively, in repeatednumerical order for example, the optical effect produced will be anapparent travel of the luminous portions in a clockwise direction aroundthe border of the sign.

For advertising purposes especially it is highly desirable to keep themessage of a sign illuminated steadily and to introduce the moving orflashing effects in the ornamentation or border thereof. This because ofthe message displayed on the sign board, as the letter N in the presentexample, is caused to be flashed on and off, it would be more difiicultto read and would probably escape the notice entirely of a quickpasserby. Provision has therefore been made to flash the tubes 3, 4 and5 consecutively, and at the same time maintain continuous luminosity ofthe message formed by the tube 7. Ordinarily this could be accomplishedby providing two independent sources of current, one forilluminating'the message steadily and the other for illuminating theborder tubes alternately.

Means ,for successively illuminating the border tubes 3, 4 and 5, isprovided in three corresponding contact segments 3', 4' and 5', overwhich a rotating brush 11 passes, thereby consecutively connecting theconductor 12 with the contact segments during clockwise rotation of thebrush. The segments are in respective connection with the three bordertubes and the other ends of said tubes terminate in a common electricalconductor 13. The tube 7 is connected between the conductor 13 and theother terminal 14: of a suitable transformer 15, the primary P of whichis connected to a source of alternating current.

From the foregoing description it will appear obvious that regardless ofthe rotative position of the brush 11, the tube 7 will remainilluminated, the latter tube being in series with one of the threeborder tubes; the particular border tube, of course, being determined bythe position of the brush with respect to the segments. This is a verydesirable method of operation especially where difiiculty is encounteredin operating the tube in parallel. Moreover, this method of operationobviates the necessity of employing a separate source of potential, as atransformer, for the tube 7.

The arm 11 is made wide enough to span two of the contact segments inorder that rotation thereof will cause the closing of one of the threetube circuits 3, 4 and 5 before breaking the circuit including the tubepreviously illuminated. Thus, during the interval which the contact armsimultaneously touches two of the segments, the corresponding tubes willbe momentarily connected in parallel. However, gaseous conduction tubesoperate with highly negative resistance characteristics due to theinitial potential necessary to break down the cathode resistance andsuch parallel connection will therefore not cause any two of the tubes3, 4 and 5 to illuminate simultaneously because the comparatively lowresistance of the particular tube illuminated will cause sufiicientvoltage drop across the momentarily shunted tube to prevent ionizationtherein.

With particular reference to Fig. 1, it will be manifest that thedarkened portions 9 may be efi'ected by painting the tubes opaquely atintervals as shown. Moreover, I prefer to add to the attractiveness ofthe moving border by having each of the three tubes 3,

4, and 5 display a difierent color.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details set forthwithout departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, as definedin the claims.

I claim:

'1. In a gaseous conduction lamp controlling system of the classdescribed, the combination of a transformer having a single secondaryconstituting a source of ionizing potential, a unit comprising aplurality of gaseous illuminable lamps and a relative continuousoperating unit comprising a gaseous illuminable lamp connected in serieswith each other and with said secondary of said transformer, and meansin said circuit for controlling said circuit to apply said potential ina predetermined manner to different combinations of lamps in the firstsaid unit simultaneously with continuous application thereof to saidcontinuously operating unit.

2. in a device of the class described, the combination of a transformerhaving a single secondary constituting a source of potential, aplurality of gaseous discharge tubes,,another gaseous discharge tube,means for connecting said last tube in said secondary circuitsequentially in series to each of said plurality of tubes whilemaintaining the secondary circuit unbroken.

3. A device of the class described co1nprising a group of gaseousconduction lamps having a common terminal and a plurality of independentterminals, means in connection with said independent terminals forapplying current thereto sequentially, a source of ionizing potentialhaving another gaseous conduction lamp connected in series therewith,and means connecting one terminal of said series to said common terminaland the other terminal of said series to the first said means.

In witness that I claim the'foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 20th day of June, 1929.

IRVING NACHUMSOHN.

